[thorn bird]

"...that the Captain may have been scapegoated in order to allow time for the ATSB to again O&O an investigation (to the benefit of the operator) but at the detriment of the real glossed over safety issues i.e. safety risks associated with quick turn-around & LCC operations. "

So what is the "Issue"?

The crew picked up the "error", mitigated it, and successfully completed the mission.

"...All company and regulatory in-flight fuel requirements for the flight from Sydney to Perth were met, and the aircraft landed with fuel in excess of the required fuel reserves..."

Still don't get it, but one could draw parallels to the Pelair debacle. Crew undertook the flight and broke no rules, yet still get mentioned in dispatches implying they had done something dodgy. In the Pelair case the pilot is still paying the price for having the temerity to point out that it wasn't just him. There were other severe deficiencies within the processes used by the operator, as well as the provision of timely weather information and regulatory oversight. That was completely ignored by the ATSB, pushed aside to focus blame entirely on the pilot.